Closing flap for envelopes and the like



May 2o, 1947.

I E. J. MALO (JLOSING FLA? FOR ENVELOPES AND THE LIKE Filed May 23,

I m/enlor vPatented May 20, 1947 ori-ics cLosING Fmr Fon ENvELorEs ANDTHE LIKE Edward Joseph Malo, Benton Harbor, Mich. l Application May 23,1'945, serial Nq. 595,321

More specifically, I attain the objects sought 'by corrugating thegummed sealing edge of the closing flap and, secondly, corrugating thecoacting and coinciding stick down surface of the body, the corrugationsof the respective areas meshing and adhering in a pre-determined manner.

Using coinciding corrugated companion areason the flap and bodyrespectively and then applying adhesive coatings on alternating andlongitudinally spaced positions, I have `found it possible to produce anenvelope in which the parts will not accidently adhere prior to theregular hand sealing stage. i

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing descrip- 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-80) tion and the accompanyingillustrative drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a conventional letter type or equivalentenvelope with its portions constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken approximatelyon the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary section through the envelope after the flaphas ben folded down and pressed and sealed in its closing position.

Referring to the drawings by distinguishing t reference numerals, itwill be seen that the body -of the envelope is indicated at d and is,for the main, of conventional construction and form.-

' The flap 5 joins the open mouth by the usual fold line 6. The ap isalso'of conventional configuration. The marginal somewhat V-shapedgum-coated surface 1 differsv from the regular envelope in that iscorrugated substantially from endto end. The corrugations may bedescribed as comprising alternate flutes 8 and 9 respectively. Theattaching surfaces of the flutes 8 are gumcoated, whereas interveningflutes 9 are noncoated.

'Ihe coinciding and therefore, complementa! flap receiving and anchoringarea I0 on the body of the envelope is likewise, corrugated. Here thecorrugations are differentiated by the numerals 8a and 9a respectively.It will be noted from the drawings that I'the corrugations again defineflutes and these are alternated insofar as the gununed and non-gummedsurfaces are concerned. Also, it will be observed that the flutes on theflap 'I alternate or are staggered in respect to the coacting ones onthe body area I 0. Or, to put it otherwise, the' gummed flutes Bv on theflap seat in the non-summed flutes 8a, while the gummed flutes 9a on thearea l0 register with the non-gummed utes 9 on .the flap l.

It is to'be understood that the flutes formed thereby form a shallowhill-and-dale companion seals and thattheflutes can beleitherrectangular or semi-circular or of' other cross-sectional forms.

As a, safeguard .the flap l can be tucked into the body at the time ofmanufacture and packaging. However, this is not essential in an envelopeof the construction shown because it isl believed that despite tropicalclimatic moisture conditions, the coacting surfaces on the flap and bodywill not adhere, that is permanently adhere, until they are actuallypressed together firmly by hand. I have found that in tropical zonescertain types of adhesive surfaces will cause the flaps to inadvertentlyseal themselves against the bodies of the envelopes. This makes acondition inconvenient and difficult for the user. On the other hand,the use of the corrugated areas t I and Il) with the especially gummed.alternating and staggered -utes wholly overcomes the objection pointedout and at the same time makes for the provision of an envelope whichvis aptly fitted for the particular purposes intended.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a, clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with .the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

` 3 the corrugado dennmg flutes, the nutes being alternately summed andplain. thu: wall of the REFERENCES CITED body with which said uted areaooacts also be- The following references are of record in the ingcorrugated. the latter corrugations matching me 0f this patent;corrugations on the flap, .the corrugations on the l l body dennmg'flutes and said num being auer- UNITED STATES PATENTS nately summed andplain. Aand the respective Numbe'x.

flutes on the body and nap being staggered in 2 131 575 ,whixgglxe setDLfzte 19 38 relation to .the placement of the summed and '8851573Blake Agr. 21. 1908 plain flutes, in the manner and ter the purposes l0described.

EDWARD JOSEPH MALO.

